BUX-MONT LEGION: Hoy helps Nor-Gwyn rally past Hatfield

UPPER GWYNEDD — Matt Hoy’s bat would have looked nice in the middle of the Hatfield order, but he was released before the summer started. Nor-Gwyn scooped up the rising North Penn senior and the designated hitter helped the Hawks rally past Hatfield at Hostelley Field Saturday night. His two-run single was the difference in a 5-3 comeback effort.

“We fell behind, but we did not let that get to us,” Hoy said. “We started rattling them and putting together good at-bats.”

Hoy got the Hawks (14-3 Bux-Mont) on the board for the first time in the fifth inning. He legged out a triple to lead off the frame and scored on a wild pitch. His effort helped the Hawks regain life, putting Hatfield (12-7) on its heels. His two-run single scored Chris Kersey and Brad Bertucci to cap off a four-run sixth inning.

“What a kid, Matt Hoy,” Hawks coach Kevin Harris said. “He just wanted to play Legion ball and asked if we were willing to take him on at the beginning of the season. I said come on over. He came out and put wood on the ball and stayed in the lineup ever since.”

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Hoy’s hit not only got the Hawks their first run, but also broke up Collin Healey’s no-hitter. Through the first four innings, Hatfield’s rising North Penn senior baffled the first-place rivals. After an error to lead off the game, the big right-hander retired 12 in a row. He finished with five strikeouts and five runs on five hits.

“Collin has become our top guy,” Hatfield coach Matt Gallagher said. “He gets the tough teams. When he is on his fastball is down and his breaking pitches get over. Other than one inning, that’s the way he pitched.”

The effort Saturday showed why he is given the ball when it matters the most. Healey brought a simple game plan and it worked for a while. But the man who showed Healey how simple pitching can be effective, just so happen to be the man on the mound for the Hawks.

“Last year through the North Penn playoffs, what Brian Maher did was pretty amazing,” Healey said. “He taught me you don’t need much to get a lot of outs. It’s the same strategy against every team.”

Healey watched Brian Maher take his well-located fastball to a state championship with North Penn in 2013. Maher, a rising sophomore at La Salle University, allowed three runs in the second inning, but was untouchable after RBI singles from Brady West and Jake Schuster. Maher fanned seven in a complete-game effort.

“The effort was great,” Gallagher said. “We put on a few runs in the second. We absolutely wanted to tack on a few more runs, but Brian did not allow us to. Sometimes you have to tip your hat to him.”

With arguably the top two pitchers in the Bux-Mont American Legion throwing strikes, the game moved at a brisk pace. But a patient approach slowed Saturday’s showdown down and Hoy’s clutch hit helped the Hawks maintain its stay atop the standings.

“We lost two games in a row, but now we are back on the winning track,” Hoy said. “Hopefully we can win our last three games and cruise into the playoffs.”